Use of 2-amino-thiazoline derivatives as inhibitors of inducible no-synthase

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a process for preparing 2-amino-thiazoline derivatives of formula (II):  
                 
 
in which either Y is a methylene (CH 2 ) and X is chosen from the following groups: O, NH, (C1-C4) N-Alkyl, N—Bn, N-Ph, N-(2-Py), N-(3-Py), N-(4-Py), N-2-pyrimidyl, N-5-pyrimidyl, S, SO, SO 2 , CH 2  or CHPh; or Y is a carbonyl (C═O) and X is chosen from the following groups: NH, N-Ph, N-(2-Py), N-(3-Py), N-(4-Py), N-2-pyrimidyl or N-5-pyrimidyl.

This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/764,853, filed Jan. 26, 2004, which application is, in turn, a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/291,084, filed Nov. 8, 2002, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/352,797, filed Jan. 30, 2002, and which claimed the benefit of priority of French Patent Application No. 01/14,510, filed Nov. 09, 2001.

The present invention relates to the production of 2-amino-thiazoline derivatives of formula (I):

or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which are useful as inhibitors of inducible NO-synthase.

The subject of the invention is the use of 2-amino-thiazoline derivatives of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions intended for preventing and treating diseases in which an abnormal production of nitric oxide (NO) by induction of inducible NO-synthase (NOS-2 ou iNOS) is involved, the pharmaceutical compositions containing the novel 2-amino-thiazoline derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and the novel derivatives of 2-amino-thiazoline and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a diffusable radical involved in many physiological and pathological processes. It is synthesized by oxidation of L-Arginine, a reaction catalyzed by a family of enzymes known as nitric oxide synthases or NO-Synthase (NOS), referenced in the international enzyme nomenclature under the number E.C. 1.14.13.39.

Three NOS isoforms, two of which are constitutive and one inducible, are known:

-   -   a neuronal NOS (NOS-1 or nNOS) was originally isolated and         cloned from nerve tissue in which it is a constitutive enzyme.         The NOS-1 produces NO in response to various physiological         stimuli such as the activation of membrane receptors according         to a mechanism dependent on calcium and on calmodulin.     -   an inducible NOS (NOS-2 or iNOS) can be induced in response to         immunological stimuli such as, for example, cytokines or         bacterial antigens in various cells such as, for example,         macrophages, endothelial cells, hepatocytes, glial cells, as         well as many other types of cells. This isoform activity is not         regulated by calcium. Consequently, once induced, it produces a         large amount of NO over prolonged periods.     -   an endothelial NOS (NOS-3 or eNOS) is constitutive and         calcium/calmodulin dependent. It was originally identified in         vascular endothelium cells, in which it generates NO in response         to physiological stimuli such as theactivation of membrane         receptors.

The NO produced by the neuronal and endothelial constitutive isoforms (NOS-1 and NOS-3) is generally involved in intercellular signalling functions. For example, the endothelial cells which line the inner wall of blood vessels induce the relaxation of the underlying smooth muscular cells via the production de NO. It thus contributes towards regulating the arterial pressure.

The NO produced in large amount by the inducible isoform NOS-2 is, inter alia, involved in the pathological phenomena associated with acute and chronic inflammatory processes in a large variety of tissues and organs.

An excessive production of NO by induction of NOS-2 thus plays a part in degenerative pathologies of the nervous system such as, for example, multiple sclerosis, focal or global cerebral ischemia, cerebral or spinal trauma, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, migraine, depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, epilepsy. Similarly, aside the central nervous system, the induction of NOS-2 is involved in many pathologies with inflammatory components such as, for example, diabetes, atherosclerosis, myocarditis, arthritis, arthrosis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, peritonitis, gastroesophageal reflux, uveitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, glomerulo-nephritis, lupus erythematosus and psoriasis. The NOS-2 was also involved in the growth of certain forms of tumors such as, for example, epitheliomas, adenocarcinomas or sarcomas, and in infections with Gram-positive or Gram-negative intracellular or extracellular bacteria.

In all the situations in which an overproduction of NO is deleterious, it thus appears to be desirable to reduce the production of NO by administering substances capable of inhibiting the NOS-2. However, given the important physiological roles played by the constitutive isoform NOS-3, in particular in regulating the arterial pressure, it is essential that the inhibition of the isoform NOS-2 has the least possible effect on the isoform NOS-3. Actually, it is known that the administration of unselective inhibitors of NOS isoforms leads to vasoconstriction and an increase in arterial pressure (Moncada, S., Palmer, R. M. J. and Higgs, E. A., Biosynthesis of nitric oxide from L-arginine: a pathway for the regulation of cell function and communication, Biochem. Pharmacol., 1989, 38: 1709-1715). These effects on the cardiovascular system are deleterious since they reduce the supply of nutrients to the tissues. Consequently, the present invention relates to compounds whose inhibitory activity with respect to NOS-2 is significantly higher than their inhibitory activity with respect to NOS-3.

Thiazoline-based NOS inhibitors are described in particular in patent applications WO94/12165, WO95/11231 and WO96/14842.

The present invention relates to the use of 2-amino-thiazoline derivatives of formula (I) in which:

either Y is a methylene (CH₂) and X is chosen from the following groups: O, NH, N-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, N—Bn, N-Ph, N-(2-Py), N-(3-Py), N-(4-Py), N-2-pyrimidyl, N-5-pyrimidyl, S, SO, SO₂, CH₂ or CHPh;

or Y is a carbonyl (C═O) and X is chosen from the following groups: NH, N-Ph, N-(2-Py), N-(3-Py), N-(4-Py), N-2-pyrimidyl, N-5-pyrimidyl for the preparation of medicinal products for preventing and treating diseases in which an abnormal production of nitric oxide (NO) by induction of inducible NO-synthase (NOS-2 or iNOS) is involved.

In the above definitions and in those which follow, the alkyl radicals contain 1 to 4 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain. The abbreviations Bn, Py, Ph mean respectively benzyl, pyridyl, phenyl.

The compounds of formula (I) contain one or more asymmetric carbons and can thus be in racemic form or in the form of enantiomers and diastereoisomers; these also form a part of the invention as well as the mixtures thereof.

Moreover, the compounds of formula (I) can be in the tautomeric form (Ia):

These tautomers also form a part of the invention.

Among the compounds of formula (I) useful according to the invention, mention may be made of the following compounds:

-   4-(morpholin-4-ylmethyl)-4,5-dihydro-1,3-thiazol-2-ylamine, -   4-(piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-4,5-dihydro-1,3-thiazol-2-ylamine, and -   4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-4,5-dihydro-1,3-thiazol-2-ylamine,     the racemic mixtures, enantiomers, diastereoisomers, tautomers     thereof, as well as the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Among the compounds useful according to the invention and particularly prefered, mention may be made of the following compound:

-   4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-4,5-dihydro-1,3-thiazol-2-ylamine,     the racemic mixtures, enantiomers, tautomers thereof, as well as the     pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

The invention also relates to the pharmaceutical compositions containing, as active principle, a derivative of formula (I) for which either Y is a methylene (CH₂) and X is chosen from the following groups: O, NH, N-(C₁-C₄)alkyl, N—Bn, N-Ph, N-(2-Py), N-(3-Py), N-(4-Py), N-2-pyrimidyl, N-5-pyrimidyl, S, SO, SO₂, CH₂ or CHPh; or Y is a carbonyl (C═O) and X is chosen from the following groups: NH, N-Ph, N-(2-Py), N-(3-Py), N-(4-Py), N-2-pyrimidyl, N-5-pyrimidyl as well as the racemic mixtures, enantiomers, diastereoisomers, tautomer thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

The compounds of formula (I) can be prepared by cyclization of a derivative of formula (II):

in which X and Y have the same meaning as in formula (I).

This cyclization is generally carried out using an acid such as hydrochloric acid, in aqueous medium, at a temperature of about 100° C. 6N hydrochloric acid is generally used.

The derivatives of formula (II) can be obtained according to the following reactions schemes:

in these formulae, X and Y have the same meanings as in formula (I), Ra is a protecting group of the amine function such as those described by T. W. GREENE, Protective groups in Organic Synthesis, J. Wiley-Interscience Publication (1991), preferably an acetyl or tert-butyloxycarbonyl radical, and Rb is a (C₁-C₄) alkyl or alkoxycarbonyl radical, preferably methyl, ethyl or isobutyloxycarbonyl.

The reaction a is generally carried out in the presence of a Lewis acid such as the iron trichloride (III), in an inert solvent such as dichloromethane or acetonitrile, at a temperature of between 10° C. and the boiling point of the reaction medium. When X represents NH, X can be protected by a protecting group of the amine function such as described by T. W. GREENE, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, J. Wiley-Interscience Publication (1991), preferably using a tert-butoxycarbonyl radical.

The reduction reaction b is preferably carried out using a hydride such as sodium borohydride or lithium aluminum hydride in a (C₁-C₄) aliphatic alcohol or tetrahydrofuran, at a temperature of between 0° C. and 30° C.

The deprotection reaction c for the compounds in which Ra is a protecting group of the amine function is carried out by any deprotection method known to those skilled in the art and in particular those described by T. W. GREENE, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, J. Wiley-Interscience Publication (1991). Preferably when the protecting group is an acetyl radical, this reaction is carried out using aqueous hydrochloric acid at a temperature of about 100° C. When the protecting group is a tert-butoxycarbonyl radical, this reaction is carried out using hydrochloric acid in dioxane, at a temperature of about 20° C.

The reaction d is carried out by the action of tert-butyl isothiocyanate, in an inert solvent such as (C₁-C₄) aliphatic alcohol (preferably methanol or ethanol), optionally in the presence of a tertiairy amine such as triethylamine, at a temperature between 20° C. and the boiling point of the reaction medium.

The compounds of formula (I) in which X represents either SO, or SO₂ can be obtained by direct oxidation of the compound of formula (I) in which X represents S. This oxidation is carried out according to the known methods of oxidation of organosufur compounds, such as described by M. HUDLICKY, Oxidation in Organic Chemistry, ACS Monograph, 186, 252-263 (1990). For example, it is carried out by the action of an organic peracid or organic peracid salt (percarboxylic or persulfonic acid, in particular perbenzoic acid, 3-chloro-perbenzoic acid, 4-nitroperbenzoic acid, peracetic acid, pertrifluoroacetic acid, performic acid, monoperphthalic acid) or a mineral peracid or mineral peracide salt (for example, periodic or persulfuric acid), in an inert solvent such as a chlorine solvent (for example, trichlorethane or dichloromethane), at a temperature of between 0° C. and 20° C. The hydrogen peroxide or periodate (sodium periodate, for example), in an inert solvent such as (C₁-C₄) aliphatic alcohol, water or a mixture of these solvents, at a temperature between 0° and 20° C. can also be used. These products can also be prepared from the corresponding compounds of formula (II), obtained according to the following reaction schemes:

The oxidation reaction a is carried out according to the known methods of oxidation of organosulfur compounds as described above.

The deprotection reaction b for the compounds in which Ra is a protecting group of the amine function is carried out by any method of deprotection known by those skilled in the art and particularly those described by T. W. GREENE, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, J. Wiley-Interscience Publication (1991). Preferably when the protecting group is an acetyl radical, this reaction is carried out using aqueous hydrochloric acid, at a temperature of about 100° C. When the protecting group is a tert-butyloxycarbonyl radical, this reaction is carried out using an hydrochloric acid in dioxane, at a temperature of about 20° C.

The reaction c is carried out by the action of tert-butyl isothiocyanate, in an inert solvent such as (C₁-C₄) aliphatic alcohol (preferably methanol or ethanol), optionally in the presence of a tertiary amine such as triethylamine, at a temperature of between 20° C. and the boiling point of the reaction medium.

The compounds of formula (I) are isolated and can be purified by the usual known methods, for example crystallization, chromatography or extraction.

The enantiomers of the compounds of formula (I) can be obtained by resolving the racemic mixtures, for example by chromatography on a chiral column according to PIRCKLE W. H. et al., Asymmetric Synthesis, Vol. 1, Academic Press (1983) or by formation of salts or by synthesis from chiral precursors. The diastereoisomers can be prepared according to the known conventional methods (crystallization, chromatography or from chiral precursors).

The compounds of formula (I) can optionally be converted to addition salts with a mineral or organic acid by the the action of such an acid in an organic solvent such as an alcohol, a ketone, an ether or a chlorinated solvent. These salts also form a part of the invention.

Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts which may be mentioned are the following salts: benzenesulfonate, hydrobromide, hydrochloride, citrate, ethanesulfonate, fumarate, gluconate, iodate, isethionate, maleate, methanesulfonate, methylenebis-β-oxynaphtoate, nitrate, oxalate, pamoate, phosphate, salicylate, succinate, sulfate, tartrate, theophyllinacetate and p-toluenesulfonate.

The compounds of formula (I) are inhibitors of NO-synthase inducible or NO-synthase of type 2 (NOS-2) and are thus useful for preventing and treating disorders associated with an excessive NO production such as mutiple sclerosis, focal or global cerebral ischemia, cerebral or spinal trauma, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, migraine, depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, epilepsy, diabetes, atherosclerosis, myocarditis, arthritis, arthrosis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, peritonitis, gastro-esophageal reflux, uveitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, glomerulo-nephritis, lupus erythematosus and psoriasis, the growth of certain forms of tumors such as for example epitheliomas, adenocarcinomas or sarcomas, and in infections with Gram-positive or Gram-negative intracellular or extracellular bacteria.

Their activities as inhibitors of NOS-2 and NOS-3 were determined by measuring the conversion of [³H]-L-arginine into [³H]-L-citrulline with, respectively, a NOS-2 enzymatic fraction extracted from the lungs of rats or mices pretreated with lipopolysaccharides (10 mg/kg i.p. 6 hours before collecting the tissue) and with a commercial preparation of recombinant bovine NOS-3. The compounds were incubated for 20 to 30 minutes at 37° C. in the presence of 5 μM (for NOS-2 activity) or 10 μM (for NOS-3 activity) of [³H]-L-arginine, 1 mM of NADPH, 15 μM of tetrabiopterine, 1 μM of FAD, 0.1 mM of DTT in a HEPES buffer (50 mM, pH 6.7) containing 10 μg/ml of calmodulin and 1.25 mM of CaCl₂ when the NOS-3 activity was measured. The incubation was stopped by adding cold HEPES buffer (100 mM, pH 5.5) containing 10 mM EGTA and 500 mg of cationic ion-exchange resin (AG50W-X8, counter-ion: Na⁺) to separate the [³ H]-L-arginine from the [3H]-L-citrulline. After separation of the phases by settling for 5 min, the radioactivity remaining in the liquid phase was measured in a scintillation counter in the presence of a suitable scintillation liquid. The yield for the recovery of the formed L-[³H]citrulline was able to be estimated using L-[ureido-¹⁴C]-citrulline as external standard.

The NOS-2 or NOS-3 activity was expressed in picomole(s) of [³H]-L-citrulline formed per minute and per milligram of protein contained in the rection medium.

In this test on the enzyme NOS-2, the IC₅₀ value for the compounds of formula (I) is less than or equal to 10 μM.

The selectivity is measured by the IC₅₀ NOS-3/IC₅₀ NOS-2 ratio. This selectivity is greater than 45.

The compounds of formula (I) are of low toxicity. Their LD₅₀ is greater than 40 mg/kg via cutaneous route in mice.

The following examples illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 4-(4-Methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-4,5-dihydro-thiazol-2-ylamine trihydrochloride

A suspension of 0.42 g de N-(tert-butyl)-N′-[2-hydroxy-1-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)ethyl]-thiourea in 3.9 mL of an aqueous 6N hydrochloric acid is heated at a temperature of about 100° C. for 5 hours. After cooling, the reaction medium is concentrated under reduced pressure (2 kPa) at a temperature of about 55° C. The residue obtained is dried in an oven under vacuum (2 kPa) for 4 hours. About 0.47 g of 4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-4,5-dihydro-thiazol-2-ylamine, trihydrochloride are obtained in the form of a very hygroscopic off-white paste. [¹H NMR spectrum (300 MHz, (CD₃)₂SO d6 with addition of a few drops of CD₃COOD d4. δ in ppm): from 2.55 to 2.90 (mf, 4H); 2.80 (s, 3H); from 2.95 to 3.30 (mf, 4H); from 3.30 to 3.60 (mf, 2H); 3.40 (dd, J=11.5 and 5.5 Hz, 1H); 3.69 (dd, J=11.5 and 7.5 Hz, 1H); 4.51 (mt, 1H)].

N-(tert-Butyl)-N′-[2-hydroxy-1-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)ethyl]-thiourea

To a solution of 1 g of 2-amino-3-(4-methyl-piperazinl-yl)-1-propanol hydrochloride in 20 mL of absolute ethanol and 1.43 mL of triethylamine, about 0.78 mL of tert-butylisothiocyanate are added. The reaction mixture is stirred under inert atmosphere at a temperature of about 20° C. for 42 hours then is heated at a temperature of about 50° C. for 1 hour 30 min. After cooling at a temperature of about 20° C., the reaction medium is evaporated under reduced pressure (2 kPa) at a temperature of about 30° C. The residue thus obtained is taken up in 10 mL of water and 40 mL of dichloromethane. The aqueous phase is extracted with 2 times 30 mL of dichloromethane. The organic phases are collected, washed with 15 mL of water, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, then concentrated under reduced pressure (2 kPa) at a temperature of about 20° C. About 0.42 g of N-(tert-butyl)-N′-[2-hydroxy-1-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)ethyl]thiourea are obtained in the form of a white paste. [Infrared spectrum between lamella of KBr 3279; 3075; 2939; 2806; 1533; 1459; 1359; 1295; 1204; 1010 and 821 cm⁻¹].

2-Amino-3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-1-propanol hydrochloride

A suspension of 0.89 g of N-[2-hydroxy-1-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)ethyl]acetamide in 10.3 mL of an aqueous acid solution of 6N hydrochloric acid is heated at a temperature of about 100° C. for 3 hours. After cooling at a temperature of about 60° C., the reaction medium is filtered and the filtrate is concentrated under reduced pressure (2 kPa) at a temperature of about 60° C. About 1 g of 2-amino-3-(4-methyl-piperazinyl)-1-propanol, hydrochloride is obtained in the form of a tacky beige-colored paste. [Infrared spectrum (KBr) 3337; 2955; 2637; 2522; 1617; 1457; 1062; 1009 and 962 cm⁻¹].

N-[2-Hydroxy-1-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)ethyl]acetamide

A solution under inert atmosphere of 3.27 g of methyl (acetylamino)-3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)propanoate in 100 mL of anhydrous methanol is cooled at a temperature of about 10° C., then 0.76 g of sodium borohydride are added using a spatula. The reaction medium is stirred for 5 hours at a temperature of about 20° C., then are added again 0.26 g of sodium borohydride and the stirring is carried out for 38 hours. Then, 5 mL of water is dropped into the reaction mass which is heated and concentated under reduced pressure (2 kPa) at a temperature of about 30° C. The obtained residue is taken up with dichloromethane and the insoluble matter is removed by filtration. The filtrate is concentrated under reduced pressure (2 kPa) at a temperature of about 20° C. The residue is purified by chromatography under argon pressure (60 kPa), on a column of silica gel (particle size 40-63 μm; diameter 5 cm; height 19 cm), eluting with successive mixtures of 20% dichloromethane/methanol/aqueous ammonia (98/2/0, 95/5/0.1, 90/10/0.2, 80/20/0.25, 50/50/0.25 by volume). The fractions containing the expected product are combined and concentrated under reduced pressure (2 kPa) at a temperature of about 40° C. About 0.92 g of N-[2-hydroxy-1-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)ethyl]acetamide are obtained in the form of a yellow-colored liquid. [Infrared spectrum CH₂Cl₂ 3621; 3429; 3352; 2944; 2803; 1657; 1513; 1460; 1284; 1050; 1011 and 816 cm⁻¹].

2-(Acetylamino)-3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)propanoate de methyle

To a solution of 8.57 g of methyl 2-acetamidoacrylate in 500 mL of dichloromethane stirred under inert atmosphere, about 6.65 mL of N-methylpiperazine are added, then 0.97 g of iron trichloride are added, and the mixture is stirred at a temperature of about 20° C. for 66 hours. Then, 300 mL of an aqueous solution of sodium sulfate are dropped to the reaction medium while stirring the reaction mixture and the mixture filtered through Celite. After separation of the phase by settling, the organic phase is dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and then concentrated in a vacuum oven under reduced pressure (2 kPa) at a temperature of about 40° C. in order to obtain an orange-colored liquid. The aqueous phase is extracted with 3 times 150 mL of dichloromethane and all of the organic extracts are collected, dried over sodium sulfate, then concentrated under reduced pressure (2 kPa) at a temperature of about 20° C. in order to obtain an yellow oil. Both of the organic extracts as described above are combined and purified by chromatography under argon pressure (50 kPa), on a column of silica gel (particle size 40-63 μm; diameter 5 cm; height 25 cm), eluting with successive mixtures of 20% dichloromethane/methanol/aqueous ammonia (99/1/0, 97/3/0, 90/10/0.25, 80/20/0.25 by volume). The fractions containing the expected product are combined and concentrated under reduced pressure (2 kPa) at a temperature of about 30° C. About 3.3 g of methyl 2-(acetylamino)-3-(4-methyl-piperazinyl)propanoate are obtained in the form of a yellow liquid. [Infrared spectrum CCl₄ 3437; 3318; 2941; 2798; 1749; 1685; 1499; 1458; 1374; 1286; 1204; 1168 and 1014 cm⁻¹]

The pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention consist of a compound of formula (I) or an isomer or tautomer or salt of such a compound, in pure form or in the form of a composition in which it is combined with any other pharmaceutically compatible product, which may be inert or physiologically active. The medicinal products according to the invention may be used orally, parenterally, rectally or topically.

Solid compositions for oral administration which can be used include tablets, pills, powders (gelatin capsules, cachets) or granules. In these compositions, the active principle according to the invention is mixed with one or more inert diluents, such as starch, cellulose, sucrose, lactose or silica, under a stream of argon. These compositions can also comprise substances other than diluents, for example, one or more lubricants such as magnesium stearate or talc, a dye, a coating (dragees) or a varnish.

Liquid compositions for oral administration which can be used include pharmaceutically acceptables solutions, suspensions, emulsions, syrups and elixirs containing inert diluents such as water, ethanol, glycerol, plant oils or liquid paraffin. These compositions can comprise substances other than diluents, for example, wetting products, sweeteners, thickeners, flavorings or stabilizers.

The sterile compositions for parenteral administration can preferably be aqueous or non-aqueous solutions, suspensions or emulsions. Solvent or vehicles which may be used include water, propylene glycol, a polyethylene glycol, plant oils, in particular, olive oil, injectable organic esters, for example ethyl oleate, or other suitable organic solvents. These compositions can also contain adjuvants, in particular, wetting agents, solvents. These compositions can also contain adjuvants, in particular, wetting agents, isotonic agents, emulsifiers, dispersants and stabilizers. The sterilization can be carried out in several ways, for example, by aseptic filtration, by incorporing sterilizing agents into the composition, by irradiation or by heating. They can also be prepared in the form of sterile solid compositions which can be dissolved at the time of use in sterile water or any other injectable sterile medium

The compositions for rectal administration are suppositories or rectal capsules which contain, besides the active product, excipients such as cocoa butter, semi-synthetic glycerides or polyethylene glycols.

The compositions for topical administration can be, for example, creams, lotions, eye drops, mouth washes, nasal drops or aerosols.

In human therapy, the compounds according to the invention are particularly useful for treating and/or preventing multiple sclerosis, focal or global cerebral ischemia, cerebral or spinal trauma, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, migraine, depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, epilepsy, diabetes, atherosclerosis, myocarditis, arthritis, arthrosis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, peritonitis, gastro-esophageal reflux, uveitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, glomerulo-nephritis, lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, the growth of certain forms of tumors such as, for example, epitheliomas, adenocarcinomas or sarcomas, and in infections with Gram-positive or Gram-negative intracellular or extracellular bacteria.

The doses depend on the disired effect, the duration of the treatment and the route of administration used; they are generally comprised between 1 mg and 100 mg per day via the oral route for an adult, with unit doses ranging from 0.5 mg to 50 mg of active substance.

The examples which follow illustrate compositions according to the invention:

EXAMPLE A

Gel capsules containing 50 mg of active product and having the composition below are prepared, according to the usual technique: Compound of formula (I) 50 mg Cellulose 18 mg Lactose 55 mg Colloidal silica 1 mg Sodium carboxymethylstarch 10 mg Talc 10 mg Magnesium stearate 1 mg

EXAMPLE B

Tablets containing 50 mg of active product and having the composition below are prepared, according to the usual technique: Compound of formula (I) 50 mg Lactose 104 mg Cellulose 40 mg Polyvidone 10 mg Sodium carboxymethylstarch 22 mg Talc 10 mg Magnesium stearate 2 mg Colloidal silica 2 mg Mixture of hydroxymethylcellulose, glycerol, titanium oxide (72/3.5/24.5) q.s. 1 finished film-coated tablet weighing 245 mg.

EXAMPLE C

An injectible solution containing 10 mg of active product having the following composition: Compound of formula (I) 10 mg Benzoic acid 80 mg Benzyl alcohol 0.06 ml Sodium benzoate 80 mg 95% ethanol 0.4 ml Sodium hydroxide 24 mg Propylene glycol 1.6 ml Water q.s 4 ml

The present invention also relates to the method for preventing and treating diseases in which an abnormal production of nitric oxide (NO) by induction of inducible NO-synthase (NOS-2 or iNOS) is involved by administration of a compound of formula (I), the racemic mixtures, enantiomers, diastereoisomers thereof and mixtures thereof, tautomer thereof and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. 

1) A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula (II)

in which either Y is a methylene (CH₂) and X is selected from O, NH, N-(C1-C4)alkyl, N—Bn, N-Ph, N-(2-Py), N-(3-Py), N-(4-Py), N-2-pyrimidyl, N-5-pyrimidyl, S, SO, SO₂, CH₂ and CHPh; or Y is a carboxyl (C═O) and X is selected from: NH, N-Ph, N-(2-Py), N-(3-Py), N-(4-Py), N-2-pyrimidyl and N-5-pyrimidyl; said (C1-C4)alkyl radicals containing 1 to 4 carbons in a straight or branched chain, and said abbreviations Bn, Py and Ph signifying, respectively, benzyl, pyridyl and phenyl, said process comprising reacting a compound of formula (IIa):

with a reducing agent to obtain a compound of formula (IIb):

reacting said compound of formula (IIb) with a deprotecting agent to obtain a compound of formula (IIc):

reacting said compound of formula (IIc) with tert-butylisothiocyanate to obtain a compound of formula (II):

wherein Ra is a protecting group of the amine function and Rb is a protecting group of the acid function. 2) An intermediate compound selected from the compounds of formulas (IIa), (IIb), and (IIc) as defined in claim 1, excluding, however, the following compounds: N-[2-hydroxy-1-(4-phenyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)ethyl]thiobenzamide, methyl 2-(N-CBZ-amino)-3-morpholino-propionate, boc-DL-β-4-morpholinyl)alanine methyl ester, methyl 2-acetamido-3-piperidinopropanoate, methyl 2-acetamido-3-morpholinopropanoate, ethyl 2-(N-benzyl-amino)-3-piperidinopropanoate, and ethyl 2-(N-benzyl-amino)-3-morpholinopropanoate. 3) An intermediate compound according to claim 2, selected from: N-(tert-Butyl)-N′-[2-hydroxy-1-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)ethyl]-thiourea; N-[2-Hydroxy-1-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)ethyl]acetamide; and methyl 2-(Acetylamino)-3-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)propanoate. 